Oil well heater



June 28, 1932. W. M. TAYLOR ou. WELL HEATER Filed Jan. 28, 1928 Patented June 28, 1932 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 HORACE E. ALLEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA OIL WELL HEATER Application filed January 28, 1928. Serial No. 250,119.

'.'' output is increased by an electric heater entirely submerged in liquid and located below the pump tubing and screen atthe bottom of the well. The pump is reciprocated by rods operated by a beam or other means at the top of the well. The action of this pump is the same as that of any force pump.

The external diameter of the tubing is much less than the internal dia-meter of the casing, but owing to the fact that the drilling of the well is not always straight and vertical, the tubing is rarely central with the casing. The tubing may be in Contact with the casing on one side at one point, and at a lower -or higher point may be in contact-with it on the opposite side. y

In my invention, the heater is shown attached to the lower en'd of the tubing, below the pump and below the screen, so that the heater and pump may both be operated together, if desired, this being the most common and usual u se for such a device, but the heater, may be suspended by a separate cable within the casing, after the tubing had been removed, and thus heat the liquid in the well, without any means for pumping while the well liquid was being heated.

In attaching the heaterto the tubing or screen below the pump, the diameter of the heater must be limited to a size that would ass readily within the casing. The wire .eading to the heater for operating it must pass down outside the tubing rand must be encased in a tubular structure which is heavy enough to withstand any grinding or crushing action between the tubing and the casing. stiff enough so that it willL not wrap around the tubing, as the tubing is being lowered into the well, tight enough to prevent water and other liquids in the well from leaking through the tubular structure to the electric wires, even under the heavy inward pressure which this liquid exerts, substantial enough to withstand the continuous vibration due t o the operation of the pump, and with all, this tubular structure must be small in diameter,

so that the sum of the diameters of ,the pump tubmg, and this tubular structure carryingv the electric wires, will be small enough so that 1t can readily be lowered through the casing. My first object is to provide a tubular structure for the wire to the heater which will meet all of these requirements.

This tubular structure, being carried 4outside of the tubing of the well, must be fastened to the latter in such a way that the weight of the tubular structure will be carried entirely by the tubing, in order that the welght of the tubular structure will not be exerted on the heater or its connections. Likewise the weight of the wire carried within the tubular structure must be carried entirely by the latter (which in turn is carried bythe tubing) so that no part of the weight of the wire will be carried by the heater or its connections. The second object of my invention, therefore, is to provide means by which the weightof' the wire and the weight of the tubular structure are both carried by the tubing of the well. If the heater is carried by a cable or means other .than the tubing, this device for carrying the weight of the wire within the tubular structure, still obtains. 'Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

Further than this, in some instances herein, I have offered more than one means for accomplishing a given result and likewise the mechanism herein set forth may not be necessary for all conditions of work. On this account, I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction shown any more than is required by the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an elevation and section of my invention in which the heater is shown as steadied by a stiffening pipe, the screen is shown above the heater. The pump (not shown) is attached above the screen,

Fig, 2 shows an elevation and section of'a modiiied forml in which the connection is larger and heavier, thus eliminating the need for a stiiening pipe, and thereby enabling the use of a heater of larger diameter and with larger outlet connectlons. In Fig. 2 a section of tubing is shown above the heater; and the pump and screen (neither of which are shown) are attached to the upper end of this section of tubing, the pump above theA screen.

Fig. 3 is a clamp used for connecting the tubular structure to the tubing;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5. i

Fig. 5 is an elevation of my invention above the parts illustrated in Fig. l, showing how the tubular structure is supported by the coupling of the well tubing, the pump (not shown) is attached to the lower end of the tubing shown in this figure.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5 at an angle of 90 from the viewpoint for Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified support of the tubular structure from' the tubing comprising clamp plates. Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan and Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the tubular structure showing the manner of supporting the electric cable by the tubular structure.

Fig. 11 shows a fragment of the screen and tubing, with a conventional deep well oil pump, drawn in section in its place between them. p

In Fig. 1, the reference character 1 is the electrical heater, and 2 is the pipe extending downward from the pump tubing. The pump and tubing above the pump are not shown in Fig. 1 but 2 represents a pi attachment to the bottom of the pump arrel carrying the pump. This connection representedby 2 may be the screen just below the pump or it may be a pipe fastened to this screen. For purposes of description, 2 is the pipe representing the bottom end of the tubing of the well below the pump, and is the support for the heater and the heater conunion 6 at its lower end. As these are ordinary and usual fittings, they are not shown in section.

The heater, which is not a part of my"i1i vention, and which therefore need not be described other than to state that it is that type of electric heater in which the heater operates when entirely submerged in the liquid, has a plug 7 at its top, into which a nipple 8 is screwed; at the upper end of this nipple 8 is a ground joint union 9. These are made in section in order to show the continuous water-tight outlet for the electric wires from the heater, through the offset connection 10 and tubular structure 21, to a point far above the level of the liquid in the well. The purpose being to have a continuous liquid tight conduit leading down through the liquid in the well to the heater.

In Fig. 1, the connection between these two unions 6 and 9, is made by an offset connection 10, bent sufficiently so that the tubular structure 21 can be attached to the upper end of the offset connection 10 and pass upward along the side of the tubing of the well. To the sides of this offset connection 10, are welded two short pipes 11 and 12. The pipe 11 is welded so that it is in line with the lower or heater portion of the offset connection 10, and the pipe 12 is welded so that it will be in line with the upper portion of the oilset connection 10. This oiset connection 10 while described as piping, can also be made as a casting or a forging.

These pipes, 11 and 12, are welded .to the outside of the oliset connection 1() but have no connection with the interior of the oiiset connection 10, so that it is impossible for any liquid which may be in the pipes 11 and 12 or from any other source, to get into the offset connection 10, or into the heater to which it is connected. These pipes 11 and 12 are only used as supports. The pipe 11 is threaded at its upper end to screw into the union 6 and the pipe 12 is threaded at its lower end to screw into coupling 13. The offset connection l0 screws into the union 9 at its lower end and at its upper end carries the coupling 17. Into the lower opening of coupling 13, a 10J pipe 14 is screwed which extends down as far as the bottom of the heater. This pipe 14 '1s clamped to the heater 1 by clamps 15, tightened by the bolts 16, thereby holding the heater and the pipe firmly together. The 105 drawing shows one clamp but there would be as many as were required.

As the tubing is lowered into the well, additional clamps represented by 22 but not necessarily of the same kind are used for 110 keeping the tubing and the extensions of the tubular structure 21 in tight relation with each other. Additions to the tubular structure 21 are continued until a point is reached above which the liquid in the well cannot 115 possibly rise. When this point is reached, an armored wire cable is all that is needed from there to the level of the top of the well, this arm-ored cable being clamped directly to the tubing by suitable clamps, placed at proper 120 intervals.

In Fig. 1 the union 6 is used to make it unnecessary to screw the oii'set connection 1() to the tubing, in order to make the proper connection therewith. In Fig. 2. the sliding 12; connection 42, attached to the offset connecti-on 18 and 20, and held to the tubing by the bolts 41, makes this connection. Both of these connections are made without the necessity of rotating the tubular structure 2l 1::

around the tubing 2. The union 9 is used so that itzis unnecessary to screw the heater 1 to the offset connection 1() in Fig. 1 and to the offset connection 18 and 20 in Fig. 2, in order that a proper joint may be made. The electric wires have a sliding connection in the union9 in order to make it unnecessary to splice the wires at this point when the heater is detached.

The clamp 22 for holding the tubular structure 21 to the tubing is intendedto be.

typical, showing a device for this purpose. Another' form would be that shown in Fig. 3. The clamping band in Fig. 3, is formed by a fiexible strip of steel made to lap at the joint. Holes are made in this band, at the proper place near its ends, and at the proper place between these two. Through these holes and between 21 and 2, a bolt 25 is inserted. Washers 26, iiat on one side and curved on the other, are placed under the bolt head and the bolt nut, to allow the bolt to be tightened upon the angular surfaceof the steel band.

By tightening the bolt, a tension is placed on the band, thereby holding 21 and 2 tightly together. s

The designation of the tubular structure 21 in the drawing herein, is assumed to mean,.

not only this particular tubular structure itself, but also tle short lengths attached above it by means of couplings, thereby forming a continuous leakproof conduit from the heater up to a point sufficiently high to be above the level of the liquid in the well, to prevent its leakage into the conduit under any and all conditions. The weight of this tubular strueture 21 and its connections, is very considerable and this'weight must not be exerted upon the offset connection 10 in Fig. 1, (or offset connection 18 and 2() in Fig. 2) as this weight would tend, not only to swing the heater out of line with the tubing, but would likely also cause leakage in the oll'setconnection 10 or in the tubular structure 21. This weight of this tubular structure, therefore must be carried by the tubing.

One way of accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by utilizing the projecting couplings of the tubing and of the tubujlar structure for this purpose.-

Here 21 represents the tubular structure carrying the electric wires, and 27 represents the couplings which are used for connecting the `ends of this tubular structure. 28 represents the tubing of the well and 29 are the couplings which are used for connecting the ends of the tubing. Because the couplings 27 and 29 are necessarily larger than the tubular structure and the tubing of the well to which they are respectively screwed, there is always a space of varying widths, from three sixteenths to one quarter of an inch, between 21 and 28. Any support, of adjustable length, may be used, the lower end of which will rest upon the upper edge 'of coupling 29 to take the weight of the tubular structure 21 by having the weight exerted upon the upper end of this support, by the lower edge. of the coupling 27. lhe speciiic means by which this is here accomplished is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and (i, comprising two curved pieces of sheet steel 3U, the thickness of which is the width of the opening between 21 and 28. These pieces of sheet steel are both shown formedv to the curvature of the tubing 28. In practice it may sometimes' prove desirable to havethe upper piece of sheet steel made to the curvature of the tubular structure 21. At the ends ol these pieces of sheet steel 'farthest from the couplings (the lower edge for the upper piece and the uppeigedge for the lower piece) a lug il 1s turned in the piece 30, extending horizontally, each of these lugs 3l being pierced with a hole of proper size for the insertion of. an adjusting bolt 32. To the lug 31 is welded a nut to give a greater thread hold for the adjusting bolt 32. The hole in the upper lug is plain, as it is only used for supporting the upper end ol the adjusting bolts 32. The adjusting bolts 32 have their upper ends eylindrical and of proper size to rotate in the holes of theupper lug 31. Below the cylindrical portion of the bolts 32, a portion of suitable size and shape for an adjusting wrench (preferably hexagonal). The lower portion ot' the bolt 32 is threaded with a long thread, as is usual with any long adjusting screw.

This adjusting device is placed in position between 21 and 28 by momentarily springing them apart slightly, and slipping the adjusting device between them. These pieces of sheet steel 30 extend less than half way around the pipe against whose curvature they fit, so that they do not have to be threaded over the end. Also the tubular structure 21, which screws into the upper thread of the coupling 27, is put in after this adjusting device is in position.

When these pieces of sheet steel 30 have been inserted in the manner indicated, the next section of the tubular structure 21, above coupling 27, is screwed in the top of this coupling and the clamp 35 is applied, but not tightened completely. The adjusting bolts 32 are then screwed up until the lower edge of the lower piece 30 rests upon the top of the coupling 29 and the upper edge of the upper piece 30 rests against the lower edge of coupling 27, namely, .to a point where the weight of the tubular structure 21 through its coupling 27, is supported by the tubing 28 through its coupling 29. The clamp 35 is then tightened finally. For wide yariations in the length of this adjustable brace, pieces 30 could be made of different lengths measured longitudinally of the tubing. The adjustment portion represented by the screw 32, is usually made standard and of ample proportions to cover ordinary and usual cases. In practice this adjustable brace is made standard and any unusual gaps between the end of this standard brace and the tubing coupling is made up by extra pieces 30, without lugs, which lit between the tubing and the conduit, and abut against the tubing co uplings at one of its ends and against one end of the standard adjustable brace at the other.

This adjustable device lies entirely within a circle whose diameter is a. diameter equal to the sum of the diameters of 21 and 28 with their couplings 27 and 29 added, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. That is, any circular hole into which 21 and 28 with couplings added (clamped together) can beinserted, will also be large enough to admit the adjusting device.

Fig. 2. shows a modification of Fig. 1. 1n Fig. 2 the heater connection is larger and stronger, and the stiffening pipe 14 of Fig. l is omitted. In this modification, a larger diameter of heater may be used. In Fig. 2 we have the heater 1, with its plug 7, nipple 8, and ground joint union 9 the same as 1n Fig. 1. IVe also have the pipe 2, extending downward from the pump, the coupling 3 and the bush 4, the saine as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, on account of the use of the heavier fittings 7. 8 and 9, due to the' omission of the stiffening pipe 14 of Fig. 1, the offset connection, in Fig. 2, is vmade up of two pipes 18 and 20, welded together at their ends with a water tight weld; the size of portion 18 being the size of the union 9, and the size of the portion 2O being the size of the tubula structure 21. The amount of the offset, in this offset connection 18 and 20 in Fig. 2, is sufficient to bring one side of the heater 1 in line with the outside of the coupling 17. The diameter of the heater is such as to bring its other side in line with the outside of coupling 3.

To one side of the offset connection 18 and 20, is welded a rod 42 extending vertically upward. The location of this rod on the offset connection is such as will maintain the heater in the position set forth in the preceding paragraph. Sliding over this rod 42 is the pipe 19, and at its upper end this pipe 19 screws into the bush 4. The pipe 19 and the rod 42 arel held together by the bolts 41. By thismeans, in Fig. 2, the weight of the heater is carried by the tubing. The con- 1f nection 20 is joinedlto the tubular structure 21 by the coupli ng 17. This offset connection 18 and 20 is described as being made up of piping but it may be a casting or a forging.

As the tubing is being lowered into the well, the heater, which is fastened to the 55 lar structure21 and the extensions of it.

These extensions of the tubular structurev 21 are made in shorter lengths than the length of the tubing, because the wire which is in full lengths, has to be threaded through these extensions of the tubular structure 21 as it is being lowered into the well and the short lengths screwed tight to othercouplings, corresponding to coupling 17, after the wire has been threaded inside. To make the units of this tubular structure the full length of the tubing units would make this operation difficult, andthe units of this tubular structure are therefore made shorter.

Figs. 7 and 8 show another type of device for carr ing the weight of the tubular structure 21 y the tubing 28. This consists of a pair ot clamps 36, shaped like a figure 3, with bolt holes at proper points for admitting clamp bolts through the opening between 21 and 28. This form of clamp does not depend on the use of the couplings 27 and 29 for carrying the weight of the tubular structure 21 by the tubing 28. It depends on the amount of friction exerted by the clamp upon 21 and 28.

n This device, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, also lies entirely within a circle whose diameter is a diameter equal to the sum of the diameters of 21 and 28, with their couplings 27 and 29 attached as shown in Fig. 8.

Both these devices, the adjusting device as shown in Figs. 4, andL 6, the clamping devlce as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are applied to the tubular structure and the tubing at convenient intervals, and a suticient number of them is used to accomplish the results desired. The devices are applied successively, at the ground level, as the tubing is being lowered into the well.

In addition to the necessity for carrying the .weight of the tubular structure 21 by the tubing 2, (using the numbers in Fig. 1 for illustration) vit is also necessary that the weight of the wires or wire cable within the tubular structure 21, should be carried in such a way that any pressure due to the weight of the wires or wire cable, will not be exerted upon the heater or heater connections, at the bottom of the well. This wire or wire cable must be directly carried by the tubular structure 21, although indirectly carried by the tubing 2.

In Figs. 9 and 10, 38 is a cable carrying the electric wires supplying the electric current to the heater The oiset connection 10, the tubular structure 21, and the coupling 17 uniting them are shown. This coupling 17 should best be a special length coupling, to insure a space between the ends of the connection and the ends of the tubular structure 21, although a standard length of cou pling may, in some cases be used. 39 are halves of clamps, -compressed by means of the bolts 40. The interior diameter of the clamp approximately lits the outer diameter of the wire cable, so that when the bolts are tightened to clamp the wire cable the outside diameter of the clamp will not be materially lessened. The outside diameter of the clamp 39 is as large as can be slipped within the coupling 17 and it rests upon the' end of the offset connection 10.

In some cases, Where the amount of the compression of the clamp is excessive, a Washer, whose outer diameter is the diameter of the internal diameter of the coupling4 17, and which is at the same time larger than the internal diameter of the offset connection 10, is sometimes used, not shown. The hole in the washer iits the cable loosely, the washer forming a support for the clamp. This washer would probably be used in cases where the wires were not enclosed in a cabley In using the wire clamp, the process is to clamp it to the wire cable before the coupling 17 or the next section of the tubular structure 21 are screwed in place. The clamp is first placed around the wire cable and after the wire cable is lifted to remove the strain from the heater` the clamp is tightened sufiiciently to give it a firm hold. In this position the clamp supports the wire cable by resting on the end of the offset connection 10. The coupling 17, having previously/ been threaded over the wire cable, is now screwed in place, after which the next section of the tubular structure 21 is screwed into the coupling 17. These clamps are not used in every coupling of the tubular structure 21, being only used sufficiently often to properly carry the weight of the wire cable'. The end of the offset connection 10 in Fig. 10 is typical and represents the end of any section of the tubular structure 21.

This particular form of clamp is used to illustrate the obect of my claims. Any form of clamp, which is carried by the end of the offset connection 10 or the end of any section of the tubular structure 21 and inside the coupling 17 is covered by my invention.

Likewise, i-n cases wherein the heater is used inside the casing alone, that is to say, where the tubing has been removed from the Well and the heater is suspended from a tubular structure 21, thereby omitting the. connection 10, the clamping device for supporting the weight of the electric wire or wire cable is necessary, and is part of my invention.

The form of the clamp used is such that it does not prevent the escape of any excess pressure generated below, from escaping through the tubular structure. Any pressure generated within the heater or its connecting tubular structure, from any cause,

1Eran find its escape through this tubular strucure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1 Patent, is 70 1. In a, device for increasinc the oil production from wells, a well tubing, a pump and screen attached to the lower end of the tubing, the pum above the screen, an offset attached to the lbwer end of the screen, an electric heater below the oi'set and electric wires passing through the offset and supplying current tothe heater.

2. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a well tubing, a screen attached to the tubing, an electric heater at the lower end of the tubing below the screen., a liquid-tight conduit havln an offset above the heater and extending a. ove the highest level of the liquid in the well and electric wires passing through the conduit and supplying current to operate the heater.

8. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a well tubing, a screen attached to the tubing, an electric heater at the lower end of the tubing, below the screen, a liquid-tight conduit formed out of short lengths joined together with couplings and having an offset above the heater, said con- 'duit'eXtending above the highest level of the liquid of the well, and electric wires passing through the conduit and supplying current to operate the heater.

4. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a well tubing, a screen attached to the tubing, an electric heater capable of operating when entirely submerged in liquid, at the lower end of the tubing below the screen, a liquid-tight conduit adjacent to the tubing extending from the heater to a point above the highest level of the liquid in the well, and means for securing the conduit to the tubing.

5. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a, well tubing, a screen attached to the tubing, an electric heater capable of operating when entirely submerged in liquid, at the lower end of the tubing below the screen, a liquid-tight conduit adjacent to the tubing extending ,from the heater to a point above the highest level of the liquid in the well, and means for securing the conduit to the tubing comprising clamps.

6. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a well tubing, an electric heater, a liquid-tight conduit adjacent to the tubing carrying the electric wires for operating the heater and means for securing the conduit to the tubing comprising clamps embracing both members, and bolts passing between the conduit and the tubing.

7. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells,a well tubing, a pump and screen attached to the lower end of the tubing, vthe pump above the screen, an electric heater attached to the tubing. below the screen, a 1i uid-tight conduit a jacentl to the tubing; bot the tubing and the condult having jointcouplings, and means for suport- 5 ing the weight of the condultfrom and y the well tubing whereby the weight of the conduit is carried by the tubing said means being 'contained within a circle havmg a d1- ameter not greater than the sum of the outside diameters of the couplings of the well tubing and conduit. 8. In an oil well device, a well tubing, an electric conduit having an offset connection with the tubing, so joined that no liquid can pass between the tubing and the offset connection, an electric heater and means for attaching and detaching the heater from the offset connection without rotating the one about the other. 2 9. In an oil well device, a well tubing, a pump at the lower end of the tubing, a well tubing extension including a screen below the pump, an electric conduit having an olfset connection with the well tubing extension Abut so joined that no li uid can pass between the tubing and the o set connection, and means for attaching and detaching the oli'- set connection and well tubing extension without rotating the one about the other.

3 10.` In an oil well device, a well tubing,

a pump at the lower end of the tubing, a well tube extension below the pump, an electric conduit parallel to and having an offset connection with the well tubinff extension. an

electric heater att-ached to the conduit below said offset, an extension down from the offset connection to the heater and means for attaching the last extension to the heater to hold the heater more rigidly in position.

11. In a device for increasing the oil production from wells, a well tubing. a screen. an electric heater capable of being operated when entirely submerged in liquid at the lower end of the tubing below the screen, a

liquid-tight conduit having an ol'set above the heater, connected with the heater and extending above the highest level of the liquid in the well, electric wires passing through the conduit and supplying the current to operate the heater and space between the elec- .tric wires and the liquid-tight conduit to relieve any excessive pressure generated within the heater or conduit while it is in operation.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

WILLIAM -M. TAYLOR. 

